Assurance
Rio Tinto's policies are communicated to the Group's businesses, together with any guidance and support that may be necessary. Group businesses then implement them through local codes of practice, and report on the effectiveness of their implementation
To be accountable and transparent we provide assurance - for ourselves and others - that Group policies are being implemented fully and consistently across our businesses and operations, including the assessment of the underlying systems, processes and competencies that underpin such performance and the confirmation and communication of same to stakeholders. Rio Tinto's financial and non-financial assurance programmes are vertically integrated from board level down to individual operations and facilities.
Our assurance process has four main components:
- A strong internal assurance process of audits, reviews and reporting;
- External assurance of the content of Rio Tinto's 2005 Sustainable development review;
- External verification of the quality of financial, occupational health, safety, environment and communities data included in the annual report and reviews; and
- Direct liaison by the individual businesses with their local communities regarding the content of their local social and environment reports.
Environmental Resources Management (ERM) has provided external assurance and verification since 2002 to enhance the transparency and accountability of Rio Tinto's social and environment performance, ERM's assurance statement.